Leading environmental groups in the South East are questioning whether the region can really grow without damaging the environment locally and globally. They are calling for sustainable development to be at the heart of all actions to deliver the South East Plan, 1 the blueprint for how the region will develop over the next 20 years.

The South East Forum for Sustainability (SEFS), a coalition of environmental groups, 2 is appearing before a panel of inspectors who are listening to evidence about the Plan. This Examination in Public finishes on Friday March 30th in Reading. The final sessions are about how the Plan will be delivered and monitored.

Although there are some welcome policies on the environment, the concern is that that these will be undermined by the overall push for growth. The umbrella group of green organisations is concerned that proposed levels of development will cause unacceptable damage to the environment. These groups believe that the planned 578,000 new homes that the region must build will put intolerable pressure on our environment.

An independent assessment of the Plan concluded that it is likely to lead to more resource use, more waste, more emissions of climate changing gases and a loss of wildlife. 3 SEFS is very concerned about the impacts on people and wildlife from climate change, The South East is responsible for more carbon dioxide emissions than any other region in the country, making it vital that the region acts soon to contribute to reductions. 4 Chris Corrigan, Chair of SEFS (and RSPB Regional Director) said: "Our concerns have not been adequately addressed. We haven't seen evidence to show that growth can happen without undermining the quality of the environment of the South East. The core ideas in the Plan are commendable but it is essential that the overall impact of the plan is to improve the environment, not make it worse."

Ian Hepburn, convenor of SEFS Planning Group (Regional Policy Director for the Wildlife Trusts in the South East) commented: "The way we live in the South East now is simply not sustainable in the long term. We need to see a lot more investment in measures to change people's behaviour. We welcome the strong support for quality greenspace to improve our quality of life - from healthy communities to wildlife and countryside. But we've yet to see the necessary commitment to fund these essential initiatives The most recent report on trends in the region has shown that close attention must be paid to transport issues. 5 It points out that not enough investment has happened in public transport and that "trends towards a higher proportion of journeys by car are persistent and problematic."

Simon Pratt, South East Regional Manager for Sustrans said: 'The region needs to work hard to ensure that transport plays its part in reducing damaging climate changing emission."

SEFS has made written submissions to the Panel throughout the hearings. 6 Evidence presented this week shows that behaviour change can happen -reducing impacts on the environment. Sustrans have demonstrated, in a number of projects around the UK that people will change their behaviour and start walking, cycling and using public transport if given clear information and opportunities. 7 Brenda Pollack Friends of the Earth Regional Campaigns Coordinator added: "Everyone is now aware that Climate Change is one of the most pressing challenges the country faces. Yet building the houses, roads and other infrastructure outlined in the South East Plan will increase damaging climate changing emissions. There must be a comprehensive assessment of the costs and benefits of the Plan followed by action to minimise any damage to the environment."